Forgetfulness Tips

Attention deficit disorder is a behavioral disorder that comprises impulsive behavior, inattentiveness and hyperactivity. This disorder tends to affect children more commonly but the symptoms tend disappear as one ages.
The various symptoms of this disorder are:

1. Concentration problems
People affected by this disorder have problems in staying focused in routine tasks. You may have problems in listening to conversations, get distracted easily, overlook various important things and have trouble remembering various things.2. Being disorganized and forgetting things
You may exhibit symptoms such as having an extremely cluttered desk. You may also experience difficulties in completing projects and forgetting appointments. You may also lose track of time while doing important things.3. Emotional problems
Various emotional problems such as mood swings, hypersensitivity to criticism, problems in staying motivated and having low self-esteem are common signs of ADD. The disorder may also lead you to be extremely short tempered and be constantlyfrustrated.4. Hyperactivity
This symptom causes you to be constantly agitated, unable to focus due to a racing mind, fidgeting constantly and talking excessively.
5. Impulsivity
You will exhibit impulsive behavior such as not being able to exercise self-control, blurting out inappropriate comments and have certain addictive tendencies.

Attention deficit disorder can cause various problems in your life. Most of these are related to the following domains:
1. Work related problems
You may constantly feel a sense of underachievement and be unable to meet your work responsibilities. You may be unable to meet deadlines, and face problems in filling paperwork.2. Relationship problems
This disorder takes a toll on your relationships such as it can create a rift between you and your family. They may feel that you are not sensitive to their concerns.3. Mental health problems
You may face various mental health problems such as drug abuse, anxiety, self-esteem issues and chronic stress.

The various remedies for this disorder are -
1. Get proper sleep
You should always aim to sleep for at least 6 hours every day. If you are well rested, then you will be more energetic and stress free.2. Regular exercise
You should exercise on a regular basis to keep yourself fit and healthy. It can also help you avoid problems such as obesity.3. Improve your relationships
You should schedule time for your loved ones and engage with them. It may contribute to your overall mental well-being.

People think that a homemaker has all the time in the world to do whatever she wants and hence, has more than enough time to devote to her fitness. Sadly, in the real world, a homemaker has the least time to devote to herself. The day she decides to go to the gym will probably be the day, something comes up at home that takes a higher priority. So, here are a few practical tips to help homemakers lead a healthy lifestyle.

1. Get rid of junk food: The tendency to snack between meals is highest when you are at home. Hence, get rid of them completely. Instead, stock fruits and try making your own version of healthy snacks. Even chips made at home are healthier than their processed variants.

2. Look for short workouts: Often, homemakers do not find the time to go for a long walk or join an exercise class. Many women take up gym subscriptions but hardly go to the gym. If you do not have the time for a long workout, try small 5-10 minute workouts in the middle of your day. These workouts help burn a large number of calories in a short time.

3. Drink plenty of water: Start the day by filling a few bottles and tell yourself that you have to finish them by the end of the day. Drinking water keeps you hydrated and satiated thus reducing the urge to snack. This also helps flush toxins out of your body.

4. Don’t skip breakfast: In feeding everyone else, do not forget to have breakfast yourself. If you do not have time to sit down to this meal, make yourself a quick smoothie for an on the go breakfast. Breakfast gives you the energy to get through the day and helps start up your metabolism.

5. Do not eat food made for your children: Many mothers find themselves munching on their children’s food while they make it or finishing up their children’s food. These are unwanted calories. If you have a habit of eating your child’s food while you make it, try keeping something healthier easily accessible so that you can change your habit.

6. Get a good night’s sleep: The body needs sleep to repair muscles and regenerate cells. Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep a day. This also helps boost your mental and emotional health. The easiest way to improve the quality of our sleep is by banning electronics from your bedroom.

MBBS, Diploma In Psychological Medicine, Diploma In National Board In Psychiatry

Psychiatrist, Navi Mumbai

A lot of things can be done to cope with the initial stages of dementia. A person goes through a wide range of emotions such as fear, denial, frustration, and anger, post the diagnosis. Here is a list of tips that will help a patient with dementia to cope better:

Physical health: For a dementia patient, it is very important to take care of one’s health. A good diet along with regular exercise and adequate rest is a prerequisite to manage this disorder.

Regular check-ups: Regular medical check-ups with the doctor are necessary in this condition. Depression and other mental health problems should be discussed with a professional.

Quit alcohol: Alcohol might give momentary pleasure from the misery, but it has long-standing implications. It reacts with the medicine and creates additional health and memory-related complications.

Allocate time for difficult tasks: With time, it can become difficult to perform even the simplest of tasks. The patient should accordingly schedule the time to perform the tasks which may be difficult to carry out. Adequate breaks should be taken while performing a task to avoid getting fatigued.

Redefine work: If a patient is suffering from dementia is still working, it should be ensured that the work is more manageable from a desk. Planning an early retirement may be a good idea in order to cope with dementia.

Be organised: Keeping track of things can get difficult with time. It, therefore, makes sense to organise all belongings systematically. Putting labels on doors and drawers also help.

Continue pursuing your hobbies: Amidst the difficulty and the depression, it is a good idea to continue doing things that are fun. While such activities might require some assistance from the doctor and family members, this helps the patient to be cheerful and healthy.

Maintain notes: Since dementia is involved with forgetfulness, it makes sense to maintain a diary and keep records of phone numbers, people, appointments, etc.

Communication channel: Maintaining a direct communication channel with family, friends, and relatives is a good idea. Sharing feelings will go a long way in maintaining relations with loved ones.

Support group: Joining a dementia support group can be highly beneficial for the patient. It will not only give the patient company but also make sure that the patient gets a lot of useful information about the disorder. It also helps in keeping the morale up.

Getting ready for the future: Things need to be meticulously planned well in advance to ensure that when the disease progresses, the patient has enough people to look after him. Things such as medical arrangements, financial assets, and property details should be carefully handed over as per the patient's wish. This will ensure a smooth run of the patients’ life when they can no longer take care of themselves.

Alzheimer: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatments
A damaging brain disease of unknown cause it is one of the common parts of dementia that usually initiate in the old age. It is one of the damaging diseases that can cause progressive memory loss, impaired thinking and changes in the personality as well. Alzheimer is one of the dangerous things that is marked by histologically especially in the development of the brain. Most of the disease has a cure, but Alzheimer doesn’t have any cure till the death. Symptoms in the body occur slowly and after some time become worse. And it becomes extremely dangerous to interfere with the daily routine tasks. Alzheimer is one of the common diseases that are severe enough to create complications in the daily basis tasks. It is one of the most common reasons for premature senility. Alzheimer is well known chronic disease that is known as neurodegenerative and usually starts slowly to create their worse effect in the body and brain as well.

When people have dementia, then they have most of the chances to face Alzheimer as well. Having such disease will directly create an effect on the mind that brings difficulties to remember the recent occurred event. As the disease advances, it creates many other complications such as language, irritation and mood swings as well. Whenever a person faces such problems in the worse condition then frequently withdraw from family and society as well. However, after some year you will lose the connections with a body that ultimately cause the death. After having a disease, a particular person will able to live for three to nine years only. One of the worst reasons is that every person usually involved in this disease after the age of sixty. Most of the risk comes from genetics, and other involved some gees. There are no medicine and supplement available that can decrease the risk of death.

Causes of Alzheimer
Like all sorts of dementia, Alzheimer's is induced by brain cell fatality. It is a neurodegenerative disease; this means there is intensifying brain cell fatality that occurs over time. A person with Alzheimer's, the muscle has fewer and fewer nerve skin cells and connections. Autopsies show that the nerve cells in the mind of your person with Alzheimer's have small debris, known as plaques and tangles, that build-up on the cells. The plaques are located between your dying brain skin cells, and they're created from a necessary protein known as beta-amyloidal. The tangles take place within the nerve skin cells, and they're created from other health proteins, called tau. Experts do not grasp why these changes appear. A number of different factors are thought to be involved. The Alzheimer's Connection has produced a quest of 16 slides that visualize what goes on along the way of expanding Alzheimer's disease. You may get access to it here.

Risk Factors Related to Alzheimer:
There are many risk factors included with such fatal disease that you need to consider.

Some studies claim that staying emotionally and socially involved may possibly slow up the threat of Alzheimer's.

Factors that improve the risk include:

Considering severe or repeated distressing brain accidental injuries (TBI) contact with some environmental pollutants, such as harmful metals, pesticide, and professional chemicals. To reduce the chance of TBI-related dementia, it's important always to wear a safeness belt when visiting by car, to have precautions when participating in contact sports, also to pursuing health instructions and rules to ensure sufficient break and restoration if a personal injury does occur. A moderate TBI seems to double the chance of experiencing dementia, while a severe TBI raises it 4.5 times.

Symptoms of Alzheimer:
There are a few symptoms which constantly recur when Alzheimer strikes a person. These symptoms include:

Initially, increasing forgetfulness or light confusion will be the only symptoms of Alzheimer's disease that you see. But as time passes, the condition robs you of more of your ram, especially recent thoughts. The rate at which symptoms get worse varies from individual to individual.

When you have Alzheimer's, you could be the first ever to observe that you're having uncommon difficulty keeping in mind things and managing your ideas. Or you might not exactly notice that anything is incorrect, even though changes are visible to your family participants, good friends or co-workers.

Brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease business lead to growing trouble with:

Memory - Everyone has infrequent storage area lapses. It's normal to reduce an eye on where you put your secrets or your investment name of an acquaintance. However, the memory damage associated with Alzheimer's disease persists and worsens, inside your ability to operate at work with home.

People who have Alzheimer's may:

After getting the Alzheimer, you will have to face many different problems that are quite complicated

Repeat claims and questions, again and again, not knowing that they've asked the question before

Forget conversations, consultations or events, rather than keep in mind them later

Routinely misplace property, often adding them in illogical locations

Get lost in familiar places

Eventually your investment names of family and everyday objects

Have trouble discovering the right words to recognize items, express thoughts or be a part of conversations

If you are facing such complicated disease, then you should read the above key points.

Pondering and reasoning
Alzheimer's disease triggers difficulty focusing and considering, especially about abstract ideas like numbers. Multitasking is particularly difficult, and it can be challenging to control budget, balance checkbooks and settle payments promptly. These problems may improve to inability to identify and package with numbers.

Making judgments and decisions
Responding effectively to everyday problems, such as food burning up on the range or unexpected generating situations, becomes more and more challenging.

Planning and accomplishing familiar tasks
Once-routine activities that want sequential steps, such as planning and preparing food meals or playing a well-liked game, turn into a struggle as the condition progresses. Eventually, people who have advanced Alzheimer's may neglect how to execute basic jobs such as dressing and bathing.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer
Want to know how to remove such complicated disease from health then you should read the below available things. It is quite fatal diseases that haven't any kind of solution then be aware of from it. Want to know that how to resolve the issues of Alzheimer? Then you should read the article. To detect Alzheimer's dementia, doctors do tests to determine storage area impairment and other thinking skills, judge useful capabilities and identify patterns changes. In addition, they perform some tests to eliminate other possible factors behind impairment. To detect Alzheimer's dementia, doctors examine your signs or symptoms and carry out several tests. An accurate medical diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia can be an important first rung on the ladder to make sure you have appropriate treatment, health care, family education and programs for future years.

Early signs or symptoms of Alzheimer's dementia
Early signs or symptoms of Alzheimer's dementia include:

Recollection impairment, such as difficulty keeping in mind events

Difficulty concentrating, planning or problem-solving

Problems concluding daily responsibilities at home or at the job

Distress with location or duration of time

Having visible or space troubles, such as not understanding distance in generating, getting lost or misplacing items

Vocabulary problems, such as word-finding problems or reduced vocabulary in conversation or writing

Using poor view in decisions

The drawback of work occasions or public engagements

Changes in feeling, such as melancholy or other habit and personality changes

Differential Diagnosis of Alzheimer:
When indicators of Alzheimer's dementia appear, it is important that you will get a fast and accurate medical diagnosis. To analyze Alzheimer's dementia, most of your doctor, a health care provider been trained in the brain conditions (neurologist) or a health care provider trained to take care of older men and women (geriatrician) will review your health background, medication history as well as your symptoms. Your physician will also perform several tests.

Treatment of Alzheimer
During your visit, your physician will examine:

Whether you have impaired recollection or pondering (cognitive) skills

Whether you show changes in the personality or behaviours

The amount of your storage or pondering impairment or changes

How your pondering problems have an effect on your ability to operate in lifestyle

The reason for your symptoms

Doctors may order additional lab tests, brain-imaging exams or send you for recollection testing. These testing provide doctors with useful information for prognosis, including ruling out other conditions that cause comparable symptoms.

Ruling out other conditions
Doctors will execute a physical analysis and be sure you do not have other health issues that might be creating or adding to your symptoms, such as indicators of previous strokes, Parkinson's disease, despair or other medical ailments.

Mental status assessment
Your physician may carry out mental status checks to check your thinking (cognitive) and ram skills. Doctors use the ratings on these assessments to judge your amount of cognitive impairment.

Neuropsychological tests
You might be evaluated by an expert been trained in brain conditions and mental health issues (neuropsychologist). The analysis can include comprehensive tests to judge your storage area and pondering (cognitive) skills.

These checks help doctors see whether you have dementia, and when you can safely carry out daily responsibilities such as generating and managing finances. They provide the maximum amount of home elevators what you can still do as well as what you might have lost. These assessments can also examine if depressive disorder may be creating your symptoms.

Myths Related to Alzheimer
Alzheimer's dementia results from the intensifying reduction (degeneration) of brain skin cells. This degeneration may arrive in many ways in brain scans. However, these scans aren't enough to produce a medical diagnosis. Scans aren't used to detect the condition since there is overlap in what doctors consider a normal age-related change in the mind and unusual change.

Myth #1: Future of diagnosis
Researchers will work on new diagnostic tools which may permit doctors to analyze Alzheimer's dementia previously throughout the condition, when symptoms are incredibly minor or before symptoms even show up. One particular tool is a Dog or cat check out that can find tau, the other hallmark irregular health proteins in Alzheimer's dementia.

Myth #2: The benefit of an early on diagnosis
It's true that if you have Alzheimer's dementia or a related disease, doctors can't give you a get rid of. But getting early on identification can be beneficial. Knowing your skill is merely as important as knowing what you can't do. If one has the other treatable condition that's triggering the cognitive impairment or in some way complicating impairment, doctors may choose to immediately start the treatment.

Also, doctors can educate you on as well as your caregivers about ways of improving your living environment, set up regimens, plan activities and manage changes in skills to reduce the result of the condition on your day-to-day life.

Importantly, an early on diagnosis also can help you, your loved ones and caregivers arrange for the future. You should have the opportunity to make up to date decisions on lots of issues, such as:

Appropriate community services and resources

Options for domestic and at-home care

Plans for controlling financial issues

Objectives for future care and attention and medical decisions

Whenever a doctor lets you know and your family about an Alzheimer's examination, doctor consultation can help you in understanding the Alzheimer's dementia, answers question and make clear what things to expect. Doctors will make clear what capacities are conserved and the way to limit future disabilities, and appearance to keep you as healthy and safe as is feasible with minimal disruption in your daily.

A lot of things can be done to cope with the initial stages of dementia. A person goes through a wide range of emotions such as fear, denial, frustration, and anger, post the diagnosis. Here is a list of tips that will help a patient with dementia to cope better:

Physical health: For a dementia patient, it is very important to take care of one’s health. A good diet along with regular exercise and adequate rest is a prerequisite to manage this disorder.

Regular check-ups: Regular medical check-ups with the doctor are necessary in this condition. Depression and other mental health problems should be discussed with a professional.

Quit alcohol: Alcohol might give momentary pleasure from the misery, but it has long-standing implications. It reacts with the medicine and creates additional health and memory-related complications.

Allocate time for difficult tasks: With time, it can become difficult to perform even the simplest of tasks. The patient should accordingly schedule the time to perform the tasks which may be difficult to carry out. Adequate breaks should be taken while performing a task to avoid getting fatigued.

Redefine work: If a patient is suffering from dementia is still working, it should be ensured that the work is more manageable from a desk. Planning an early retirement may be a good idea in order to cope with dementia.

Be organised: Keeping track of things can get difficult with time. It, therefore, makes sense to organise all belongings systematically. Putting labels on doors and drawers also help.

Continue pursuing your hobbies: Amidst the difficulty and the depression, it is a good idea to continue doing things that are fun. While such activities might require some assistance from the doctor and family members, this helps the patient to be cheerful and healthy.

Maintain notes: Since dementia is involved with forgetfulness, it makes sense to maintain a diary and keep records of phone numbers, people, appointments, etc.

Communication channel: Maintaining a direct communication channel with family, friends, and relatives is a good idea. Sharing feelings will go a long way in maintaining relations with loved ones.

Support group: Joining a dementia support group can be highly beneficial for the patient. It will not only give the patient company but also make sure that the patient gets a lot of useful information about the disorder. It also helps in keeping the morale up.

Getting ready for the future: Things need to be meticulously planned well in advance to ensure that when the disease progresses, the patient has enough people to look after him. Things such as medical arrangements, financial assets, and property details should be carefully handed over as per the patient's wish. This will ensure a smooth run of the patients’ life when they can no longer take care of themselves.

Do you find it too hard to figure out what to wear? Does taking some important decision leave you feeling paralyzed? These indicate that you suffer from compulsive indecisiveness. Struggling with this problem leaves you stuck in one place and causes you distress. Fear of taking the wrong decision is the primary reason, which makes people indecisive. It is also likely for you to bother too much about what other people think of you.

Here are five important steps, which you should take for overcoming compulsive indecisiveness:

CompulsiveForget your fear: Fear of something often causes indecisiveness. You need to figure out and write down your fears and what you would do if these occur. If you are indecisive about a job change or whether the new job will be paying you less, you should analyze how the reduced income will affect your life and how you can deal with it.

Tune into your emotions: Maximum people who suffer from compulsive indecisiveness and struggle at making major decisions tend to over analyze situations a bit too much. In some cases, you cannot create an easy perception or a suitable side for a situation in spite of stressing over it from various angles. The situation will remain the same, no matter how much you think. Write down your options, think about them, rate them, and choose the top rated option.

Practice on small things: For improving upon your indecisiveness, you should start practicing by taking small decisions every day. Aim at taking 10 major decisions everyday such as where to go for lunch, which route to take to work and more. Slowly, practice taking decisions quickly instead of pondering over a situation. Try to make instant decisions in various spheres of life.

Learn to trust yourself: You need to list all your strengths. Write down whether you think if you are smart, creative or funny. Ask yourself whether you can infuse your strengths into your process of decision making. Try to test your strengths in all kinds of matters. Once you are sure of your strengths, you will be able to achieve your goals without hesitation.

Pick one thing at a time: You should pick things and matters one at a time to focus on. If there are several things which bother you and add to your indecisiveness, try to handle them one by one. This way you will be able to give all your focus to one matter, and overcome your fears related to it. After that, move on to another fear.

It is important for you to let go and refrain yourself from analyzing whether a decision which you had taken is right or wrong. Instead, focus on activities which matter to you and do not ponder over old decisions.

With age, most body organs begin to deteriorate in their function. This happens to the brain also, thereby reducing the overall speed of functioning of most organs. While slowing of bodily movement is visible, the internal organs functioning also slows down, which is not that obvious. Memory loss or dementia is one of the main manifestations of this degeneration of the brain.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, and the associated symptoms includes reduced reasoning abilities and cognitive defects. Though it is seen only in the elderly, not all elderly people will have Alzheimer’s. The overall quality of life of the affected person is reduced with difficulty remembering things that were recently learned. It is a progressive disease and as it gets more severe, a full-time caretaker may be required.

Causes: The brain cells are affected by protein masses known as plaques and tangles. These hamper the way communication between the brain cells happens as well as affect nutrition from reaching all parts of the brain. This leads to shrinking of the brain, eventually leading to memory loss and other problems. There is also a strong genetic linkage, as most people with Alzheimer’s have the lipoprotein A gene.

Symptoms: Though memory loss is the most common symptom, there are other symptoms:

Risk factors: While age is definitely a risk factor, the fact that not all aged people develop Alzheimer’s is to be borne in mind. Other risk factors include the history of stroke, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and poor lifestyle choices.

Diagnosis: While there is no definitive way to diagnose Alzheimer’s, symptoms along with brain scans and neuropsychological function testing are useful ways to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment: This is aimed at two things reducing the rate of disease progression and treat (or reverse) symptoms if possible.

Cholinesterase inhibitors improve cellular communication in the brain and also manage depression and agitation. Memantine is used to slow the pace of disease progression.
In people with the disease, small changes are useful to help them with the symptoms. These include keeping essential things like keys and wallet in the same place, keep a daily diary to help them remember things, keep pictures of friends and family within visible distance.

Do you find it too hard to figure out what to wear? Does taking some important decision leave you feeling paralyzed? These indicate that you suffer from compulsive indecisiveness. Struggling with this problem leaves you stuck in one place and causes you distress. Fear of taking the wrong decision is the primary reason, which makes people indecisive. It is also likely for you to bother too much about what other people think of you.

Here are five important steps, which you should take for overcoming compulsive indecisiveness:

Forget your fear: Fear of something often causes indecisiveness. You need to figure out and write down your fears and what you would do if these occur. If you are indecisive about a job change or whether the new job will be paying you less, you should analyze how the reduced income will affect your life and how you can deal with it.

Tune into your emotions: Maximum people who suffer from compulsive indecisiveness and struggle at making major decisions tend to over analyze situations a bit too much. In some cases, you cannot create an easy perception or a suitable side for a situation in spite of stressing over it from various angles. The situation will remain the same, no matter how much you think. Write down your options, think about them, rate them, and choose the top rated option.

Practice on small things: For improving upon your indecisiveness, you should start practicing by taking small decisions every day. Aim at taking 10 major decisions everyday such as where to go for lunch, which route to take to work and more. Slowly, practice taking decisions quickly instead of pondering over a situation. Try to make instant decisions in various spheres of life.

Learn to trust yourself: You need to list all your strengths. Write down whether you think if you are smart, creative or funny. Ask yourself whether you can infuse your strengths into your process of decision making. Try to test your strengths in all kinds of matters. Once you are sure of your strengths, you will be able to achieve your goals without hesitation.

Pick one thing at a time: You should pick things and matters one at a time to focus on. If there are several things which bother you and add to your indecisiveness, try to handle them one by one. This way you will be able to give all your focus to one matter, and overcome your fears related to it. After that, move on to another fear.

It is important for you to let go and refrain yourself from analyzing whether a decision which you had taken is right or wrong. Instead, focus on activities which matter to you and do not ponder over old decisions.

As people grow older, they age physically as well as mentally. Just as they become more susceptible to conditions such as arthritis, their risk of mental illnesses also increases. It is also important to note that physical ailments influence mental ailments. Thus, arthritis may not only be a problem in itself but may cause mental disorders as well.

Some of the most common psychological problems that affect the elderly are:

Depression: Depression can affect people of all ages but the elderly have a higher risk of suffering from it. The symptoms and effects of this condition vary from person to person. These include feeling sad constantly, tiredness and lack of energy, lack of self-worth, unexplained weight loss or weight gain, insomnia and reduced appetite. This may be caused as a side effect of certain medications or treatment, as a result of frustrations caused by other physical ailments or just an effect of age.

Memory Problems: As people get older, their memory weakens. Many lose their long-term memory skills. They may also lose their short-term memory. This is not the same as being forgetful. Characteristic symptoms of amnesia include confusion, memory loss, inability to recognize people, etc. Amnesia may be caused by a number of factors including trauma to the head, brain damage or psychological factors such as PTSD.

Dementia: Dementia is characterized by the person’s mental inability to function normally. This could be in the form of random mood swings, apathy, confusion, changes in short-term memory or failed sense of direction. Dementia is typically caused by the death of brain cells due to tumors, infections, lack of oxygen, lack of nutrition etc. Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, vascular dementia and frontotemporal dementia are all forms of dementia.

Alzheimer’s Disease: This is a kind of dementia as well. In such cases, the patient loses memory of where they are and believe themselves to be in another place and time zone. The patient may not be able to rationalize things happening around him and may be unable to recognize their own family members. This is a neurodegenerative disease that involves shrinkage of the brain cells. It may be genetic. Alzheimer’s can be treated and managed but it cannot be cured.

Insomnia: Insomnia can be classified as a physical and mental ailment. It is characterized by the inability to sleep well at night. Some of the noticeable symptoms include tossing and turning for hours in bed before going to sleep, waking up frequently at night, waking up earlier than planned and falling asleep during the day. Insomnia in the elderly is typically caused by stress and anxiety. It may also be the result of certain types of medication.

With age, most body organs begin to deteriorate in their function. This happens to the brain also, thereby reducing the overall speed of functioning of most organs. While slowing of bodily movement is visible, the internal organs functioning also slows down, which is not that obvious. Memory loss or dementia is one of the main manifestations of this degeneration of the brain.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, and the associated symptoms includes reduced reasoning abilities and cognitive defects. Though it is seen only in the elderly, not all elderly people will have Alzheimer’s. The overall quality of life of the affected person is reduced with difficulty remembering things that were recently learned. It is a progressive disease and as it gets more severe, a full-time caretaker may be required.

Causes: The brain cells are affected by protein masses known as plaques and tangles. These hamper the way communication between the brain cells happens as well as affect nutrition from reaching all parts of the brain. This leads to shrinking of the brain, eventually leading to memory loss and other problems. There is also a strong genetic linkage, as most people with Alzheimer’s have the lipoprotein A gene.

Symptoms: Though memory loss is the most common symptom, there are other symptoms:

Diagnosis: While there is no definitive way to diagnose Alzheimer’s, symptoms along with brain scans and neuropsychological function testing are useful ways to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment: This is aimed at two things reducing the rate of disease progression and treat (or reverse) symptoms if possible.

Cholinesterase inhibitors improve cellular communication in the brain and also manage depression and agitation. Memantine is used to slow the pace of disease progression.
In people with the disease, small changes are useful to help them with the symptoms. These include keeping essential things like keys and wallet in the same place, keep a daily diary to help them remember things, keep pictures of friends and family within visible distance.